BA 4371 International Business

Course BA4371.0U2.11U International Business

Professor Steve Sauerwald
Term Summer 2011
Meetings Monday & Wednesday: 10:30am-12:45pm SOM 2.714

Professor’s Contact Information

Office Phone 972-883-6112
Office Location SOM 4.102
Email Address steve.sauerwald@utdallas.edu
Office Hours By appointment (Please send me an email to schedule a meeting)
Other Information The quickest and easiest way to contact me is through email (via utdallas or
eLearning email). If you would like to schedule a phone conversation, we can do
so via email. Please check eLearning periodically; Check eLearning for slides.

General Course Information

Pre-requisites, Co-
BA 3365, MATH 1326 and MATH 2333 or BA 3333.
requisites, & other
Pre-/Corequisite: BA 3341. (3-0) S
restrictions

This course highlights the business challenges faced by internationally operating

firms. To compete in today’s global economy, managers need to be able to apply
management principles across countries and cultures with suitable adaptation in
the process. Adopting a truly global perspective of management, this course pre-
sents current thinking in international business theory and practice. It introduces
students to the environments of International Business and Multinational Corpo-
Course Description rations (MNC). It will cover topics such as international trade and investment
theories, country environments (e.g., political, legal, financial, and economic
environments), culture, foreign direct investment, international strategy, and cor-
porate ethics.

This course is structured in a lecture-discussion format. We will use case analysis

as a way of practicing your business thinking skills as well as your writing skills.

1. Know how institutions & resources affect MNCs

2. Develop an understanding for ethical behavior in international business
Learning Outcomes 3. Understand cross-cultural differences in an international business context
4. Develop a regard for human values and the ability to make judgments based
on ethical and environmental considerations

TEXTBOOK:
M. W. Peng (2011). Global Business (2nd ed.). South-Western Cengage Learn-
ing. (Both ISBNs refer to the same book: ISBN-13: 978-1-4390-4224-3 and
ISBN-10: 1-4390-4224-1)

To save cost, the best deals can be found at www.cengagebrain.com. Purchase e-

Required Texts &
book, e-chapters, or print version, savings up to 50%. Text book rentals are avail-
Materials
able.

Current news in international business: Newspaper/Magazines such as “The

Economist” or “BusinessWeek” can be helpful (especially to get your group pro-
ject started). UTD library electronic database is another useful source for addi-
tional materials for group projects.

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Assignments & Academic Calendar (* changes to the schedule may be made as necessary)

W Date Topic Assignments / Important Events

5/23 Chapter 1
(Why IB matters)/ Globalizing
1
5/25 Chapter 2
Finalize Group Formation
Formal Institutions
5/30 No Class
(Memorial Day)
2
6/1 Chapter 3 Information on group project;
Informal Institutions Pick your company
6/6 Chapter 4
Resources and Capabilities in International Business
Meet the textbook author Dr. Peng (Guest talk on:
3 “Emerging multinationals from China”)
6/8 Chapter 4
Resources and Capabilities in International Business
2nd half of class: Case discussions
6/13 Chapter 5
Trading Internationally
4
6/15 Chapter 6 Group Milestone 1
Foreign Direct Investments (required)
6/20 Chapter 8 Individual paper 1 due (read instruc-
Global and Regional Integration tions on individual assignment)
5
6/22 QUIZ 1
QUIZ: Bring Scantron (882 E)
(Midterm)
6/27 Chapter 9
Entrepreneurship
6 2nd half of class: Case discussions
6/29 Chapter 10
Entering Foreign Markets
7/4 Chapter 12
Merger and Alliances
7 7/6 Chapter 13
Group Milestone 2
Strategizing & Learning around the World
(optional)
2nd half of class: Case discussions
7/11 Chapter 15
Human Resource Issues
8
7/13 Chapter 15 Group Milestone 3
Human Resource Issues (optional)
7/18 Chapter 16
Corporate Governance around the World
9 7/20 Chapter 17 Final Written Group Report due;
Corporate Social Responsibility around the World Individual paper 2 due (read instruc-
tions on individual assignment)
7/25
Wrap up/
10 Group presentations
7/27 Presentations

8/1 QUIZ 2
QUIZ: Bring Scantron (882 E)
(Final)
11
8/3 Reading Day – No Class

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 BA 4371 International Business

Course Policies

The following aspects of the course determine your grade:

Component Weighting
Group Project 35%
- 1 paper: 25%
- 1 presentation: 10%
2 Quizzes (15% each) 30%
2 Individual Papers (10% each) 20%
Grading Criteria Participation (see below for criteria) 15%
Total 100%

The following grading criteria apply:

A+ >=97 A 94 – < 97 A- 90 – < 94
B+ 87 – < 90 B 84 – < 87 B- 80 – < 84
C+ 77 – < 80 C 74 – < 77 C- 70 – < 74
D+ 67 – < 70 D 64 – < 67 D- 60 – < 64
F 0 – < 60

1. You will form groups of 3 people (this may change depending on class size) and
work over the course of the semester on this group project.

2. Your group will pick a multinational corporation (MNC) and write your own
case study / analysis.

3. This assignment requires the use of library/outside research, using sources such
as business newspapers, business magazines, library databases (see appendix),
and books. Sources such as private blogs / private websites are not allowed.
Analysis (not just facts) and recommendations are required. Just searching com-
pany website and/or citing free web information is not enough

4. Please properly document your sources either in footnotes/endnotes or in (author

name, year) format with a reference list attached at the end of your work

Group Project 5. The final group report has a length of 5 to 8 double-spaced pages, excluding the
(25% group report; title page and any attachments, such as figures, tables, appendix, and references
10% presentation) (tables and references can be single-spaced). Please use Times New Roman 12
point font; 1” margins all around.

6. The project will be structured in three milestones

a. Milestone 1: Company overview, problem statement
b. Milestone 2: Case description (case background)
c. Milestone 3: Case analysis (recommendations / conclusion)

7. Your guiding question should look like this: “How can company A solve inter-
national business issue XY?” Examples include: (1) How to enter a new foreign
market? (2) How to divorce from our JV partner while minimizing the damage to
our interests and reputation? (3) How to govern a newly acquired foreign compa-
ny? (4) How to deal with ethical dilemmas abroad (e.g. child labor)?

8. Your paper will be graded based on

a. Use of concepts learned in class
b. Reasonableness of analysis

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 BA 4371 International Business

c. Appropriateness of recommendations/conclusions
d. Storyline and professionalism of manuscript

In general, the best papers will show evidence of some investigative efforts—
digging for more information, interviews/phone calls/emails with managers—and
of synthesis and careful editing. They will also be insightful, going beyond the
most obvious lessons to draw out the story behind the story.

9. Format guidelines:
a. Sub-titles are required.
b. Exhibits should be labeled sequentially and in the order they are discussed in
the text. If you do NOT talk about an exhibit in the text, it probably isn’t
doing anything except taking up space.
c. Include a title page including names and an abstract outlining your case
study (the abstract should be max 100 words)
d. We will discuss the report (content, format, etc.) early on in the course

10. You will give a group presentation at the end of the semester (see our class
schedule). Presentation format may change depending on how many students en-
roll. For additional information on the presentation, please refer to the appendix.

There will be two quizzes. While both quizzes are non-comprehensive, the course
material builds and integrates on previous topics, thus certain questions may be an-
swered from many angles, and drawing on many areas of the course will demonstrate
a superior experience. Quizzes will be based on assigned readings (textbook and other
articles) as well as all other materials covered in class (videos, cases, guest lectures).
The exam format will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and/or short essay
questions.

Two Quizzes Request for rescheduling an exam will be considered only with timely notification to
(15% + 15%) the instructor and with appropriate documentation such as a written medical excuse or
a note from the academic dean. It is your responsibility to inform the instructor in
advance of the exam. Approval for rescheduling is at the discretion of the instructor.

PLEASE NOTE: I will be highlighting information from the text as well as explain-
ing some information that may need clarification or elaboration. I will NOT repeat
everything in all chapters. HOWEVER, test questions can come from information in
the text that we did not cover in class. If you do not understand something in your
textbook, please ask questions about it so I can clarify for you.

You will write 2 individual papers in this course. At the end of each chapter, you will
find a section labeled “Debates and Extensions.” Pick a debate from a chapter that we
cover in this course and write a one page paper (single spaced, no title page please).
This assignment is to be done on an individual basis.

Each individual paper is due when we cover the chapter the debate belongs to. You
Individual Papers
can pick any debate from the chapters we will discuss in class but make sure to turn
(10% + 10%)
in your paper at the beginning of class (hardcopy please).

Also, you must turn in your first individual paper in the first half of the semester
(meaning before Quiz I) and the second individual paper in the second half of the
semester (meaning before Quiz II). It is permissible and even encouraged to turn in
your individual papers as early as possible as this will save you much time as the se-
mester progresses. You will need to have read the chapter to adequately answer the

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 BA 4371 International Business

debate. Please do not cover two debates from the same chapter.

You need to both summarize the debate (less than ½ page), and answer the question:
How does the assigned chapter/reading help you understand and participate in the
debate? For example, between two contrasting positions A and B, you had always
intuitively supported A (before taking the class). Now you find assigned readings to
intellectually support your support for A. Or, despite your initial belief in A, through
this course, you now support B. Tell us why.

There will be a sign-in sheet for each class period. Please let me know if you have to
miss a certain class in advance (per email). Otherwise, your participation grade
will be adversely affected.
The instructor has the sole authority in assigning participation grades. Use of cell
phones, texting, emailing, and surfing the internet are forbidden during class hours.
The following criteria are a guideline for your participation grade. These criteria
are crucial for your participation in case discussions (cases are discussed through-
out the semester to illustrate the use of course concepts).

10/10 (excellent participation): participate regularly in every class attended, and at

least make one significant contribution in each class attended
9/10 (very good participation): participate regularly in every class attended, and at
least make significant contributions in most classes attended
Participation
8/10 (good participation): participate regularly in most classes attended, and make
(15%)
significant contributions in many classes attended
6/10 (fair participation): participate regularly in most classes attended, and make sig-
nificant contribution in several classes attended
4/10 (poor participation): participates in some of the classes attended, and make sig-
nificant contribution in a couple classes
2/10 (very poor participation): participates in some of the classes attended
0/10 (extremely poor participation): I hope nobody falls in this category

The remaining 5% of your participation grade are reserved for pop quizzes or addi-
tional assignments (discussed in class). The lowest pop quiz grade is dropped.

* To help the instructor learn each student’s name and grade participa-
tion/contribution as fairly as possible, please prepare and bring a nameplate to each
class.
Extra Credit No
Late Work Late assignments are not accepted.
Attendance is expected for every class session. There are no excused absences from
the exams without a written excuse from a doctor or the academic dean. If there is a
Class Attendance serious scheduling conflict or religious needs, it is your responsibility to let the in-
structor know well in advance in writing. Please arrive on time to avoid disrupting the
class.

Policies and Procedures for Students (Please refer to the below websites)
The University of Texas at Dallas provides a number of policies and procedures designed to provide stu-
dents with a safe and supportive learning environment. Brief summaries of the policies and procedures are
provided for you at http://provost.utdallas.edu/home/index.php/syllabus-policies-and-procedures-text and
include information about technical support, field trip policies, off-campus activities, student conduct and
discipline, academic integrity, copyright infringement, email use, withdrawal from class, student grievance
procedures, incomplete grades, access to Disability Services, and religious holy days. You may also seek
further information at these websites:
 http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm

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 BA 4371 International Business

 http://www.utdallas.edu/judicialaffairs/UTDJudicialAffairs-HOPV.html
 http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm
 http://www.utdallas.edu/disability/documentation/index.html
NOTE: These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

APPENDIX
Library Resources
The following library site provides data search engines that are very helpful in assisting you to write your
papers: http://www.utdallas.edu/library/reference/business.html

Just searching company website and/or citing free web information is not enough. Take advantage of the
paid search engines provided by the library. Should you have further questions, contact the SOM liaison
librarians in the library (Loreen Phillips, Loreen.Phillips@utdallas.edu).

Information on Group Presentation

1. Each team is scheduled for one oral presentation. Length may vary based on how many students enroll
but will not exceed 15 minutes in length.
2. Visual aids must be employed.
3. Teams are expected to dress professionally (this is a simulation of a real business setting)
4. All team members must be involved in the oral presentation with each team member presenting a seg-
ment. Segment definition is the responsibility of the team.
5. A printout of your slides as well as a bibliography should be given to the instructor. The title page of
your presentation should list the case name, the date, the names of each team member, and the segment
each member will cover.
6. When presenting, indicate the outside sources used. If you present industry averages, for example, or
demographic data, indicate where you got them
7. A Q&A session will follow your presentation. Be prepared to receive questions regarding your as-
sumptions, your use of data, your conclusions, your logic, and your recommendations. Other class
members may not agree with your analysis. Your instructor may challenge your analysis. DO NOT
BECOME DEFENSIVE. This is a natural part of the process. You are being asked to think on your
feet and demonstrate that you have a deep understanding of the case issues. ALL team members should
participate in the question and answer session. Everyone learns from this experience, even class mem-
bers who are not presenting.

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